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Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reiterated that Kiev does not seek peace and that the West has tasked President Zelensky with escalating the conflict. She called on Western countries to stop arms supplies, which she said are an obstacle to a settlement, and criticized the US for not informing Moscow of any changes in its position.
At the 67th round of Geneva International Discussions, Russia urged practical measures for lasting security in the South Caucasus, including a legally binding agreement on the non-use of force between Georgia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Delegations expressed concern over Georgia's NATO integration and military exercises, and discussed the search for missing South Ossetian citizens.
Recent TASS reports highlight persistent tensions between the US and Iran despite ongoing negotiations, with the Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon ceasefire remaining key flashpoints. Meanwhile, the EU has postponed new Russia sanctions due to internal divisions, and NATO leaders are set to meet in Ankara amid disagreements over Ukraine, Iran, and the alliance's direction.
Ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8, Turkish authorities have arrested 225 people, including activists and journalists, and denied accreditation to critical media outlets. The government cites terrorism investigations, while press freedom groups voice concern.
Ireland formally takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union on July 1, 2026, with a ceremony at Dublin Castle. The six-month term is expected to focus on sanctions against Russia, support for Ukraine, EU enlargement, and digital policy, but it begins under a shadow of security concerns and legal questions over foreign military assistance.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a £15bn defence investment plan aimed at modernising Britain’s armed forces, but analysts warn of job losses from cuts elsewhere and question whether spending will meet Nato targets by 2030.
Britain's outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a £298 billion defence spending plan over four years, including £15 billion in additional funding. The plan prioritises drone warfare and autonomous systems, with over £5 billion allocated for drone transformation and significant investment in the Global Combat Air Programme.
The Dutch government has pledged continued military aid to Ukraine through 2029, with annual funding of €3 billion, while Dutch officials urge Ukraine to respect international humanitarian law. Russian officials criticize the aid as prolonging the conflict.
Russian officials, including Dmitry Medvedev and Maria Zakharova, have responded sharply to Finland's parliamentary decision to lift a ban on importing nuclear weapons, warning of additional political and military-technical measures. The Russian embassy in Helsinki said there are currently no signs of nuclear weapons being deployed in Finland, but acknowledged the theoretical possibility affects regional security.
Cambridgeshire police have come under scrutiny after handing over sexual assault investigations involving US military personnel to American authorities. The cases, including those of a US airman accused of indecent exposure and a fighter pilot convicted of strangling a woman, have prompted Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy to raise concerns with the US government.
The US Supreme Court is set to conclude its term with several major rulings pending, including cases testing Trump's presidential powers, election laws, and transgender athlete bans. The court has already delivered victories to Trump on immigration and a loss on tariffs.
Alexander von Bismarck, descendant of the first German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, told TASS that Europe and Russia will not go to war, but warned that threats directed at Moscow could increase the danger of nuclear war. He also criticized EU policy as top-down and called for dialogue between Russians and Germans outside the political elite.
President Vladimir Putin has publicly acknowledged that Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure are causing fuel shortages, as queues at petrol stations and rationing spread across the country. Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted refineries and other oil facilities, prompting Moscow to impose export bans and seek fuel imports. The crisis has exposed vulnerabilities in Russia's energy sector and brought the war's consequences home for ordinary Russians.
The United States and Iran have exchanged new rounds of strikes, threatening a fragile ceasefire and raising concerns about the stability of the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides blame each other for violating the interim agreement, while diplomatic efforts to de-escalate continue.
Germany faces extreme heat warnings as temperatures climb towards 38°C, with storms causing injuries and evacuations across the country. The Greens call for air conditioning in public buildings.
The United States has launched fresh airstrikes on Iranian military infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued Iranian attacks on commercial shipping. Iranian media report explosions in several coastal cities, and Iran's foreign ministry has condemned the strikes as a violation of the June memorandum of understanding. At least 14 people have been killed in the attacks over the past two days, according to Iranian authorities.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized Western military aid to Ukraine, warning that advanced weapons operated by foreign soldiers could provoke a Russian retaliatory strike. He also confirmed Slovakia will not participate in military loans and reiterated the country's commitment to humanitarian aid and peaceful dialogue.
A Russian unmanned aircraft expert told TASS that NATO member states cooperated in assembling drones used in attacks on the Moscow Region, identifying a Turkish-made navigation system. The expert also said European countries are increasingly involved in producing strike UAVs for Ukraine.
The United States and Iran exchanged military strikes in the Gulf region, with Washington responding to an alleged Iranian drone attack on a cargo ship and Tehran retaliating against US targets. The escalation threatens a fragile ceasefire agreed in mid-June, though reports indicate both sides have agreed to halt attacks and meet in Qatar for talks.
South Korea announced plans to train 500,000 military personnel as drone operators and produce tens of thousands of drones by 2029, aiming to make drones a standard tool for every soldier. The initiative, driven by lessons from recent conflicts and concerns over North Korea's advancing drone capabilities, includes a shift to 100% domestically produced components.